A stay-at-home-dad offers thoughts on the joys and sorrows, and everything in between, of fatherhood.

Monday, June 19, 2006

An Imperfect Trip to the Grocery Store

Having a sick baby is stressful. Whatever rhythm might have been created prior to the sickness is liable to disappear, and, during certain moments, time appears to stand still. On the other hand, meeting baby’s needs when they’re a little more extreme is pretty clearly God’s work, and an honor.

Though I’d wiped her nose twenty or thirty times before leaving for the grocery store, I realized when we got back home afterward that her face hadn’t been perfectly clean. No one said, “Hey, mister, do you think you could maybe do a better job keeping your daughter’s face clean?” But I didn’t feel all that comfortable. On the other hand, I know how much face wiping she can tolerate, and I’m keeping her one wipe short of fighting off all facial wiping for the rest of eternity.